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Emmett
Student
Great Barrington, Massachusetts
1
Question
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Is college right for me
I like to do many things and love to try new things as well. #college
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5 answers
Doc Frick
Career Coach and Mentor
1348
Answers
California, CA
Updated
Doc’s Answer
Emmett although college has many advantages, it’s not for everyone, and there are many factors that should be evaluated before making a decision. Most jobs nowadays require a college degree, however, there are some fields that don’t require a college education. If you don't see college in your future, don't worry. There are plenty of options for successful careers where you don't have to earn a college degree.
• TRADESMAN – Employees skilled in different trades, such as electricians, machinists, and construction workers, play a critical role in society by keeping our day-to-day lives running smoothly. A good place to start is by looking for trade schools in your area. These schools will have programs designed to help you earn your license in a specific trade. Most have a program in place to help you find an apprenticeship so you can earn your hours toward your license once you have completed the preliminary coursework.
• MILITARY – The military is another option, especially if traveling and seeing the world is of interest to you. You can get on-the-job training in a variety of fields from medical to technical, depending on your interests and abilities. Finally, you might even be able to turn your passion into a small business. There may be grants or other funding opportunities in your local community to support small business development. Whatever path you chose, there are many possible paths to careers that bypass a college education.
• ENTREPRENEUR – If neither of these options appeals to you, you might consider a career path in entrepreneurship. These business people carve out their path in the world, creating inventions or building businesses in their communities. There are all sorts of business models you could choose to follow to turn your passion into an income. For example, you might open a small business with a traditional brick and mortar store. Online or home-based businesses are another opportunity for those who don't wish to pursue a college degree.
Emmett some people end up entering a bachelor's degree program because they can't think of anything else they want to do, or because they were never encouraged to consider any alternatives. For many people, this ends up being a fine decision. But just having a college diploma doesn't mean you'll be guaranteed success, happiness or even a modicum of personal satisfaction. One important thing to consider before enrolling in college is whether you're ready to make the most of it. Before you can pick a specific school, you need to decide what you want from your higher education and how it meets your needs and lifestyle. When you graduate high school, you have several options to choose from:
• 2-YEAR COMMUNITY COLLEGE – Community and junior colleges offer a wide variety of two-year associate degree programs. They're typically less expensive than four-year schools and often have less stringent admissions criteria. Community and junior colleges are a good choice for students who don't wish to commit to a four-year program or those who only need to take a few classes to qualify for a profession or improve their transcript. Upon completion of a community or junior college, a student can enter the workforce right away or transfer to a four-year school to obtain a bachelor's degree.
• 4-YEAR UNIVERSITY – A four-year college focuses mostly on undergraduate studies and offers a collection of degrees in one specific area, such as business or medicine. A four-year university is generally bigger in size than a college and normally includes undergraduate, professional and graduate degree programs. Both colleges and universities grant bachelor's degrees.
Hope this was helpful Emmett
• TRADESMAN – Employees skilled in different trades, such as electricians, machinists, and construction workers, play a critical role in society by keeping our day-to-day lives running smoothly. A good place to start is by looking for trade schools in your area. These schools will have programs designed to help you earn your license in a specific trade. Most have a program in place to help you find an apprenticeship so you can earn your hours toward your license once you have completed the preliminary coursework.
• MILITARY – The military is another option, especially if traveling and seeing the world is of interest to you. You can get on-the-job training in a variety of fields from medical to technical, depending on your interests and abilities. Finally, you might even be able to turn your passion into a small business. There may be grants or other funding opportunities in your local community to support small business development. Whatever path you chose, there are many possible paths to careers that bypass a college education.
• ENTREPRENEUR – If neither of these options appeals to you, you might consider a career path in entrepreneurship. These business people carve out their path in the world, creating inventions or building businesses in their communities. There are all sorts of business models you could choose to follow to turn your passion into an income. For example, you might open a small business with a traditional brick and mortar store. Online or home-based businesses are another opportunity for those who don't wish to pursue a college degree.
Emmett some people end up entering a bachelor's degree program because they can't think of anything else they want to do, or because they were never encouraged to consider any alternatives. For many people, this ends up being a fine decision. But just having a college diploma doesn't mean you'll be guaranteed success, happiness or even a modicum of personal satisfaction. One important thing to consider before enrolling in college is whether you're ready to make the most of it. Before you can pick a specific school, you need to decide what you want from your higher education and how it meets your needs and lifestyle. When you graduate high school, you have several options to choose from:
• 2-YEAR COMMUNITY COLLEGE – Community and junior colleges offer a wide variety of two-year associate degree programs. They're typically less expensive than four-year schools and often have less stringent admissions criteria. Community and junior colleges are a good choice for students who don't wish to commit to a four-year program or those who only need to take a few classes to qualify for a profession or improve their transcript. Upon completion of a community or junior college, a student can enter the workforce right away or transfer to a four-year school to obtain a bachelor's degree.
• 4-YEAR UNIVERSITY – A four-year college focuses mostly on undergraduate studies and offers a collection of degrees in one specific area, such as business or medicine. A four-year university is generally bigger in size than a college and normally includes undergraduate, professional and graduate degree programs. Both colleges and universities grant bachelor's degrees.
Hope this was helpful Emmett
Thank You Simeon. Life is an echo. What you send out comes back.
Doc Frick
Ryan Triolet
Workforce Real Time Analyst
3
Answers
Detroit, Michigan
Updated
Ryan’s Answer
Hey Emmet! There are several factors to consider when thinking about going to college. First, think about your interests and talk to a school counselor or teacher about how those interests may translate into a career. Once you've got that figured out, it's time to ask whether the profession or field you are interested in requires college.
If this position or field does require college, it's important to look into what degree is necessary- whether it's a 2-year associate's degree, a 4-year bachelor's degree, or a master's or doctoral degree.
Then, make sure you look into the financial aspect of college. Ask yourself these questions: Is it something you or your family can afford to pay for? Are there scholarships you may qualify for? Are you comfortable taking on student loans?
If the job or field you want to work in requires college, and you're ready to take the leap into higher education, then yes, college is for you!
If this position or field does require college, it's important to look into what degree is necessary- whether it's a 2-year associate's degree, a 4-year bachelor's degree, or a master's or doctoral degree.
Then, make sure you look into the financial aspect of college. Ask yourself these questions: Is it something you or your family can afford to pay for? Are there scholarships you may qualify for? Are you comfortable taking on student loans?
If the job or field you want to work in requires college, and you're ready to take the leap into higher education, then yes, college is for you!
Dawnyale Oliver, MBA, PHR
Senior Recruiter
35
Answers
Fort Worth, Texas
Updated
Dawnyale’s Answer
Hi there Emmett!
Knowing if college is right for you really depends on your goals. If what you're wanting to requires a degree or would be easier if you had an affiliated education to do it, then it's probably the right choice! I would spend some time talking to a career counselor to figure out what your strengths are, what you like and where all of that can take you in life.
I recommend talking someone in a career you're interested in. Speaking with them one-on-one, asking what a "a day in life" of their career field is like, how they got there, what they would recommend doing to enter that field. This will give you a good idea of the real world experience it takes to be in that position. From there, you can start working on the steps it takes to reach your goals.
If you do decide you'd like to attend college, do your research to determine which school is best for your desired position/field and apply for any scholarship and grant you can. Also, talk to your teachers about providing letters of recommendation or referrals to resources that will help you along your journey.
Good luck to you!
Knowing if college is right for you really depends on your goals. If what you're wanting to requires a degree or would be easier if you had an affiliated education to do it, then it's probably the right choice! I would spend some time talking to a career counselor to figure out what your strengths are, what you like and where all of that can take you in life.
I recommend talking someone in a career you're interested in. Speaking with them one-on-one, asking what a "a day in life" of their career field is like, how they got there, what they would recommend doing to enter that field. This will give you a good idea of the real world experience it takes to be in that position. From there, you can start working on the steps it takes to reach your goals.
If you do decide you'd like to attend college, do your research to determine which school is best for your desired position/field and apply for any scholarship and grant you can. Also, talk to your teachers about providing letters of recommendation or referrals to resources that will help you along your journey.
Good luck to you!
April Grossman
2
Answers
Updated
April’s Answer
From my experience, the military has been by far the best option to help me be able to explore different interest. I was able to gain experience in logistics, human resources, finance, technology, leadership skills, and many others within an 8 year period. There are numerous benefits with serving in the military such as being able to reclassify military occupations (MOS), financial support for furthering your education, and translatable experience.
Simeon Snow
Risk Assurance
1792
Answers
Houston, Texas
Updated
Simeon’s Answer
In general, if you're not sure what you would do with a degree, it is usually better to get a general business degree or seek a career path that does not require a full degree. There are a lot of high demand jobs such as plumbing, welding, and sonography, that shouldn't require a previous degree and are pathways to comfortable incomes. Whatever you do, I would highly recommend avoiding debt of any kind for school unless there is a clear goal and path towards repayment. My generation is full of people that took tens of thousands in school loans and decided they'd figure out the details later. It's easy to get stuck under a mound of debt that you'll be working off for decades if you go to college just for the sake of going to college.